Process and apparatus for bleaching fabrics in open width condition



March 20, 1934. F. BARKER ET AL 1,951,745

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR BLEACHING FABRICS IN OPEN WIDTH CONDITIONFiled April 18, 1930 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 20, 1934. F. BARKER El AL1,951,745

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR BLEACHING FABRICS IN OPEN WIDTH CONDITION 8Sheets-Sheet 2 PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR BLEACHING FABRICS IN OPEN WIDTHCONDITION Mai-ch 20, 1934. F. BARKER El AL Filed April 18, 1930 8Sheets-Sheet 3 Hill) l l n March 20, 1934. F. BARKER ET AL.

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR BLEACHING FABRICS IN OPEN WIDTH CONDITIONFiled April 18, 1930 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 lu muuullunlm l Hmnmnunmln March20, 1934. F. BARKER ET AL PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR BLEACHING FABRICS INOPEN WIDTH CONDITION Filed April 18, 1950 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 f 9r k 5 hr YOrt& E l, w w4% t R 2 0 o 3 "3 Harm March 2.0, .1934. F. BARKER ET AL1,951,745

I ROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR BLEACHING FABRICS IN OPEN WIDTH CONDITIONFiled April 18, I950 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 TTORNEYS March 20, 1934. BARKER AL1,951,745

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR BLEACHING FABRICS IN OPEN WIDTH CONDITIONFiled Ap ril 18, 1950 8 Sheets-Sheet a Ill ATTORNEYS Patented M...20,1934

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR BLEACHING FABRICS IN OPEN WIDTH CONDITIONFrederick Barker and Ernest Barker, Heywood, and Percy Vincent Barker,Styal, England Application April 18, 1930, Serial No. 445,302

In Great Britain July 3, 1929 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a process of and apparatus for bleachingfabrics in open width condition.

According to the process, the fabric to be bleached is suspended inperfectly open form in festoons in or in connection with a portablewagon or vehicle by being hung in lengthy festoons over closely pitchedbars or spacers spanning from side to side or forming part of adetachable frame. The wagon which has no top and preferably only sides,going end-on into a kier, and being preferably enclosed therein, suchkier being adapted to stand pressure. In this kier, which has provisionfor heating and circulating the caustic or boiling solution, there is anover-head tray or vessel with perforated bottom and the liquor fallsthrough the holes in the tray and over spaced bars, or any equivalent,disposed below the tray and arranged for splitting-up or distributingthe liquor which is rained downover the festooned cloth in the wagon oron the rods or bars shut-up in the kier. The second stage in the processis, to open the boiling kier, withdraw without disturbing the festoonedfabric and then to run the transportable wagon into what is really awashing apparatus and this is constructed to receive the wagon and hasan over-head perforated tray with lower distributor, lower compartmentfor water, and pump for circulating the washing water and distributingsame to fall in split-up condition onto the festooned fabric supportedon the wagon or standing in position in the washing apparatus. Thethirdstep in the process is, to withdraw the wagon or the festooned fabric onthe wagon and introduce the same into an apparatus adapted to receivesame, this apparatus being provided with a lower trough and having anover-head tray and distributor to allow a chemicking solution to berained down and re-circulated.

Thereafter the festooned fabric is withdrawn and introduced into awashing apparatus of type similar to the one already mentioned.Following this, the festooned fabric is introduced on or in connectionwith a wagon into an apparatus where the souring is effected-this beingadapted to receive the wagon, and having meansfor collecting andcirculating a souring solution,

- which is distributed from over-head through a 60 tray and lower liquordistributor. Thereafter the final washing is effected in a washingapparatus as before. Finally the festooned fabric is removed on thewagon and the fabric pulled off by a mangle or equivalent which, inpulling off the fabric, throws out the bars or spacers onto the floor or'wagon receiving the festoons will be later deinto a collectingreceptacle. The processes performed in the bleaching such as boiling orscouring, chemicking, and souring, might be obviously varied orextended, but it is the intention to maintain the fabric undisturbed infestoons on or transported by the wagon throughout the complete processand to introduce the fastooned fabric on or by the wagon in successionto the various apparatuses.

The invention includes means or apparatus for 5 carrying out thebleaching process according to the process or method already set forth.Suitable apparatus is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, to whichwe refer in the following detailed description, and in such drawings:--

Fig. 1 is a side view showing a simple apparatus with fabric beingfestooned into a wagon such as could be advantageously used under ourprocess.

Fig. 2 shows an end view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows in front view a form of boiling or scouring kier withcirculating and distributing means and movable door.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an end view of one of a series of apparatus of a kind in whichthe washing, chemicking, souring, etc., can be done.

Fig. 6 shows a side view of Fig. 5.

Figs. 7 and 8 are end and side views of the transportable and readilyremovable wagon loaded with the festooned fabric.

Figs. 9, 10 andll show one form of support rods, bars or spacers for thefestooned cloth.

Figs. 12 to 19 are enlarged detail views of the liquid spreading devicesover which the solutions or liquids are discharged.

Figs. 20 to 25 are detail views showing how the spreading or liquordistributing devices can be supported.

Figs. 26 and 27 are views showing the fabric being pulled off a wagon tobe emptied, after completion of the bleaching.

The fabric to be bleached and marked a can be drawn from the supply andguided over bars a and guide roller :1 to feed rollers 11 Boys standingon platforms a insert the cross-rods or spacers, to be later described,and one boy operates the hand wheel a to feed the fabric down infestoons as Figs. 1 and 2 indicate. The

scribed, the same having wheels which run upon rails. A wheeled truck Cwith rails on its platform is shown, and this truck can be run on floorrails C to any apparatus of the combination.

We employ a scouring or boiling kier constructed to stand some pressureand this may be of any shape and designed to take two wagons one behindthe other, or side by side, as found most convenient. The drawings showa scouring or boiling kier marked 1) and this has a readily fixable andremovable end door b This door may be suspended and movable on runnerwheels b on an over-head rail b The door is so supported as, on release,to move slightly forward to facilitate'its being quickly shifted, andsaid door can be clamped by swing bolts b. There is a trough b at thebase of the kier and a suitable circulating pump b This pump lifts theliquor through a tubular or other heater b from the trough or base 12and discharges the heated liquor into an over-head trough c which has aperforated bottom. The heated liquor falls on and between closely spacedbars marked d, which can well be of plain or perforated square orchannel section, a form of which is well shown to a large scale by Figs.12 and 13 and the lower edges may be serrated at frequent spacings d toensure a well distributed drip and to prevent streams travellinglongitudinally. There is preferably provided more than one set of spacedbars and we show a second set e with lower edges serrated at e Thislower set is separately shown at Figs. 14 and 15, and the bars are shownas breaking joint with the set 11 whereby liquor falling between thebars d encounters the bars e arranged below.

There is preferably arranged below the set of bars e a further set ofspreading devices. This set is marked f and consists of a series ofspreaders fashioned from sheet material or built-up, and well shown byFigs. 16 to 19, there being a vertical web f which, looked at end-on,has a series of bent horizontal portions or sections, one bent to rightand one to left, the directions of bend to right or left alternatingineach succeeding section through the length. Semi-circular cuts are madeat the right-angle bends of the lower webs to interrupt the travel ofliquid.

The manner of supporting the bars d, e, f is shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6and by the Figs. 20 to 25. Angle-iron supports g are provided and thesecarry slotted transverse brackets 9 In the slot in such brackets and forthe distributing bars d and e is disposed a bearer g notched on the topedge and the notches position the bars d and e whilst the spaced bearers9 support the bars (1 and e at intervals. The arrangement for thedistributors f is similar (see Figs. 23 to 25), bearers g being used andcut-out along the'top edge. The bearers g in this case sit each one inits slot in the slotted transverse brackets g sustained by theangle-iron supports g. The upper edge of each spaced bearer g is cutaway to support the distributors f, as shown by Fig, 23.

The fabric a is festooned into the wagon as already mentioned so as tofill the same, and a suitable wagon structure is shown by Figs. 7 and 8and this wagon is marked it. It has more or less open sides and no ends,and the sides may be stayed by removable cross-bars h arranged acrossthe ends and fixed by wing-nuts h or permanently fixed by bolts. The topof the wagon sides has suitable longitudinal sections 12 and the wagonis adapted to run on flanged wheels h on rails. We provide cross-bars orrods 1 with combined or separate spacing pieces i at each end, and thesebars or rods may be made of any suitable material or metal as forexample of an alloy known under the trade-mark or trade-name ofStaybrite, and these bars or rods may be wrapped with twine or otherwisecovered to clothe same and prevent direct contact with the alloy.

The fabric a is hung or arranged in festoons depending in the wagon has'already explained, the festoons being closely pitched. With thefabrics so arranged in the wagon, said wagon is run on its flangedwheels h on the provided rails n and introduced into the boiling orscouring kier b, the door b is closed up, and the scouring or boilingtakes place for the requisite period, with the heated liquid constantlycirculated so that same is sprayed down over the suspended fabric fromthe trough c and over the bars d, e, f.

The wagons have the flanged wheels h} to suit provided rails 71 etc.,for ease of insertion or withdrawal. If desired flanged Wheels suitablylocated to run on over-head run-ways could be provided.

After the scouring or boiling, the wagons h are withdrawn, say onto atruck C withirails, and which truck has flanged wheels to run on railson the floor of the bleach croft. The truck or trucks with the supportedwagons is then transported to a washing and subsequently to succeedingapparatus all of which may be of a kindred construction. A constructionof apparatus suitable for washing, chemicking, washing, souring,washing, etc., is clearly illustrated by Figs. 5 and 6. This apparatusis lettered 7 and comprises a substantial frame-work boarded in at theback and the sides, and provided with a blind 7' at the front. It has abottom reservoir i rails to run the wagon h upon, a pump 7' a pipe dleading to the pump, and up-cast pipe an over-flow outlet 7' The pump 7'delivers the liquor through perforated tray 0 and over bars ordistributors d, e, j, which may well be similar to those alreadydescribed with reference to the boiling or scouring kier. These bars ordistributors d, e, i, might be of gutta- -percha, vulcanite, orstructures coated with such, or of noncorrosive alloys, in the variousapparatuses other than the boiling kier where they would preferably beof a non-corrosive alloy.

The wagon, after washing, is introduced for example into an apparatussimilar to 7', where the chemicking part of the process is performed.The wagon then goes to a washing ap paratus similar to 7', then to a"souring apparatus similar to 9', and afterwards to a washing apparatussimilar to 12 All these several apparatuses can be substantially similarto 7' and they allow of running-in of the wagon and of the collecting,circulating, and over-head split-up distribution of the various liquors.These several apparatuses may be designed to take one or more wagons.

The boiling or scouring kler or kiers and other specified apparatus ofwhich latter there may be to be emptied, is shown as having been broughtto a staging k, the fabric being pulled oil! over rollers k and bars kby a mangle h The top portions or rails h of the festoon carrying wagonmay be in the form of a separate detachable frame resting on the sidesof the wagon and this frame may be introduced on a wagon and left onsupports in each treating apparatus and the wagon withdrawn leaving thefestooned fabric on the bars or rods in the separable frame, and aftertreatment the wagon is again introduced to lift and support the frameand permit of withdrawal of the frame with festooned fabric fortransport and introduction into the further apparatuses or for removalor otherwise. This variation means that a less number of wagons wouldserve for effecting our process.

It is clear that more than one layer of fabric may be festooned in thewagons and bleached by the various apparatus described, and the twofabrics can be pulled out of a wagon by separate rollers and so woundinto two batches.

In the present systems of bleaching in rope form, the fabrics arenecessarily creased and punished and so they do not takedye-stuffsevenly, whilst in the known open fabric bleaching processes the cloth ispulled through the various stages by mangles or squeezers to itsdetriment. Under our process, the fabric once festooned is submitted toall processes in that condition without any disturbance, andconsequently tension, squeezing, or bad treatment and all handling isdone away with, the workmen merely requiring to introduce and remove thewagons to the various apparatuses.

For both heavy and delicate fabrics as well as for fabrics woven withartificial silk designs, the improved process presents great advantages.

The actual construction of boiling kier, washing, chemicking, andsouring apparatuses may vary somewhat so long as wagons with festoonedcloth can be introduced and treated in required manner.

The process and apparatuses are equally effecing in the rope from somefour or five days to. a

matter of one day.

We regard the distributing apparatus as of conv siderable importance thesame serving to splitup and spread and rain down the liquor over thesupported and festooned fabric in very effective fashion.

The durability of the plant is to be appreciated and all the festoonwagons are kept clean automatically, being washed along with thesupported fabric.

We declare that what we claim is:

l. A process for bleaching fabrics in open width form which consistsinsupporting the fabric in open width and in festooned form upon spacedsupports and in subjecting the fabric upon the spacedsupports to aplurality of treatments in zones, the festooned fabric being firstboiled in a scouring zone, then washed in a washing zone, and thensuccessively chemicked, washed, soured and washed in washing zones, thefabric being maintained throughout all the operations on the same spacedsupports and in festooned open width formations, and the liquors in allthe treatments being circulated, discharged and spread over the fabricfrom over-head and at different levels to rain the liquids down upon thefabrics, 10 upon the spaced supports, and in untouched festooned form. V

2. The herein described method or process for the progressive treatmentof fabrics in open width form and comprising the festooning of thefabric upon spaced supports and the introduction of said fabrics infestooned form to treatment in a succession of zones wherein thefestooned fabric on the same spaced supports is treated in one zone to ascouring process, then in a zone to washing treatment, then in a zone tochemicking treatment, then in 'a zone to washing treatment, then in azone to souring treatment, and then in a zone to washing treatment, thetreatment in the successive zones being by liquid discharged from '115over-head by raining down the liquor from different levels, the spacedsupports being finally discharged from the bleached fabric.

FREDERICK BARKER. ERNEST BARKER. PERCY VINCENT BARKER.

